This week, Unlocking Detention has been ‘visiting’ Campsfield House detention centre in Oxfordshire. The Duncan Lewis Public Law, Civil Litigation and Immigration teams put us in touch with Siarhei, who is currently detained in Campsfield. In addition to the normal barriers to communication faced by everyone in detention, Siarhei speaks no English, so Anastasija Vasiljeva in the Civil Litigation team at Duncan Lewis kindly helped to interpret for us.
A huge thank you to Duncan Lewis for their assistance, and to Siarhei for his reflections on being detained in Campsfield and under immigration powers in prison.
We'll be holding a Q&A with Siarhei, detained in #Campsfield, on Thursday. It won't be live because, like many in #detention, Siarhei speaks very little English, so we'll be speaking via an interpreter. #Unlocked18
Thanks to @DLPublicLaw for putting us in touch with Siarhei. pic.twitter.com/Rfdcde8pCP
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 19, 2018
Tomorrow from 10am #Unlocked18 will have a Q and A session with Siarhei who is currently detained in #Campsfield. pic.twitter.com/wosJoe12g0
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 21, 2018
It is a privlege to be involved in @DetentionForum Q&A with our client Siarhei, for #Unlocked18. Follow Detention Forum or our retweets to hear, from the inside, what it is really like in #Campsfield #immigration #detention centre. https://t.co/j4TB3Lvj1D
— DuncanLewisPublicLaw (@DLPublicLaw) November 22, 2018
Welcome to our Q&A with Siarhei, who is currently detained in #Campsfield. Siarhei speaks no English so we've been talking to him via an interpreter. Big thanks to @DLPublicLaw for facilitating this conversation for #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/jW9iqX2ep1
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei: It’s my 1st time in detention. I’ve been in #Campsfield for two weeks. Before that I was held in prison for 3 months past the end of my sentence. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
A second question for Siarhei in #Campsfield #detention centre, originally via @hurleycat38 #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/ToIIX5NR4T
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei: I was in prison for 6 months. After that I was detained in prison for another 3 and a half months. Prison and detention are absolutely different. At the end of my prison term I noticed that the attitude towards me was getting worse. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Another question for Siarhei, this one first came from @SimonHilditch #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/X5IojkB4fX
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (1/2): I had absolutely no idea, only knew they existed. I knew nothing about the rules or procedures. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (2/2) I heard about detention first when I was in prison. I was told it’s a lot better than prison. I was held 3 months longer in prison before being transferred to detention. There is absolutely awful treatment in prisons as opposed to detention centre. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Such a valid and under-appreciated point. Thank you
— Simon Hilditch (@SimonHilditch) November 22, 2018
Another question for Siarhei, who is detained in #Campsfield now but has actually spent most of his time detained in a prison rather than a #detention centre.#Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/UCBU90P6BZ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (1/4): I was entitled to more rights as a detainee as opposed to a prisoner but I was openly told by the staff that they do not care what rights I think I have. I experienced discrimination, verbal abuse, humiliation. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (2/4): I lost a tooth while eating. I applied for the dentist. Nothing happened. I was in awful pain so I asked an officer for some painkillers. He told me: “Go there, there are more officers, ask them”. He turned around and left like I was not even there. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (3/4): They told me they would put me in the basement and will not get access to anything when I refused to move to a room with other prisoners (I used to live in Prison before with a drug addict who was awful. They never moved me despite my requests). #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (4/4): Here in #Campsfield it's a lot better. The treatment is better by staff and healthcare. The officers answer you and actually ask if I am ok, or if I have a lawyer. They know I have a language barrier and they actually make an effort to understand me. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Another question for Siarhei: what's it like to find out that #Campsfield will be closing in May 2019? What do you think will happen next?#Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/EtCPaWBrvv
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (1/2): I have not heard of this. Why is it closing? I don’t even know what to say to this. I cannot say whether I can predict what would happen. I have not been to the other centres so I am unsure whether the other ones are better or worse. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (2/2): I feel comfortable here despite it being an IRC. Obviously, it is worse than being free. If only medical help here was more responsible and attentive, it would have been better. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
A question for Siarhei about visits in #detention, which are often impossible because of distance, cost, childcare, and so on. This question came from our Quarterly Meeting in September. #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/mayKPXcts9
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei: No, I do not have contact with any of my relatives. I only contact them by SMS or phone call as they are abroad. No-one visits me unfortunately. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
A question for Siarhei about visits in #detention, which are often impossible because of distance, cost, childcare, and so on. This question came from our Quarterly Meeting in September. #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/mayKPXcts9
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei: No, I do not have contact with any of my relatives. I only contact them by SMS or phone call as they are abroad. No-one visits me unfortunately. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
This question for Siarhei about a typical day in #Campsfield comes via @AVIDdetention #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/Uagiorxsew
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (1/2): In the morning I wake up, go to have breakfast. There is sufficient time to eat. Others seem to be unhappy, but there is milk, coffee, porridge, different types of bread and two eggs. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (2/2): Then I look at the graph and if I do not have to work, I go to research things and look up information online. I go to the computer room. I also play pool. There is also a room with a big TV where we can watch films. There’s plenty of free time. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
This question for Siarhei raises a common issue faced by people in #detention – accessing medical advice and treatment #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/WPa4VytKCM
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei: I have depression and a skin condition which was caused by it. I called my doctor back at home and was told that it should be treated but no one here was able to assist for a week apart from giving me pills. However, lately I was consulted. I am now happy. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Another question for Siarhei in #Campsfield originally via @AVIDdetention #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/xmleICtd4R
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei: This is affecting psychologically, of course. I am morally and psychologically stable but even still it is hard. I see people losing their mind. One can lose his mind without realising it. But it is better than prison where you are locked in most of your time #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Here's another question for Siarhei from Forum members at our Quarterly Meeting earlier this year. #Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/a1YZN4MuS1
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (1/2): If someone wants to move countries, and come to live in the UK, they should research the details about the country they wish to enter. I only found out many details when I was in Prison in the UK already. If I knew, I would have acted differently. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (2/2): People hear many gossips and they don’t actually know the facts. People who talk and confuse those who need help. The best thing is to consult with an immigration lawyer at an earlier date so that you do not find yourself in a similar situation. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Final question for Siarhei, held in #Campsfield #detention centre, comes via @EiriOhtani. What would you say to Theresa May if you had the chance?#Unlocked18 pic.twitter.com/KTm4uf6VlF
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (1/2): I have always been interested in politics, but I do not like her way of handling things. Her position is quite racist. This is my opinion . I was expecting her to lose people’s trust as her position is a bit too stiff. Time will show. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Siarhei (2/2): In respect of Brexit this is so silly. How many banks will have problems? Who will be doing manual labour? English people? No. No-one will. They will send us away and there will be nothing left. As such I would ask her to change her mind a little bit. #Unlocked18
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
A huge thank you to Siarhei for his time and thoughts for #Unlocked18. Thanks also to @DLPublicLaw – without your interpreting skills this would never have been possible, a reminder of how difficult it can be for people in #detention to speak and be heard.
(Image by @Carcazan) pic.twitter.com/czAD9WSqNc— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
Special thanks to @AnastasijaVas from @DL_CivilLit for interpreting for us.
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 22, 2018
And thank you @DetentionForum for providing a platform to Siarhei to speak about his life in #Campsfield . Yet another valuable and rare insight into #immigration #detention , from somone who has experienced it firsthand, in the ongoing #Unlocked18 . An honour to be involved. https://t.co/CMVr1dlBzn
— DuncanLewisPublicLaw (@DLPublicLaw) November 22, 2018